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BOCM Boon

BOCM PAULS has completed a quartet of new developments in its
Scottish operations that will combine to save the region's livestock farmers significant amounts of money on their
livestock feed bill this winter, while also boosting livestock performance, claims the company's Scottish sales
manager Grant Spittal.

New protein treatment technology has been installed at its
two Scottish blend plants at Turriff Farm Feeds (Aberdeenshire) and Kingan Farm Feeds (Dumfries), which will
significantly reduce the cost of proteins like soya.

A new blends director, Bill Souter, who understands the needs and
demands of the Scottish livestock sector like few other people in the industry, has been put in charge of blends
development throughout Scotland and Northern England. Combined with the opening of a new AgriBusiness Desk in
Motherwell, Lanarkshire, has significantly upped the level of competition between feed supply companies in Scotland.

The final development is the sourcing of a new,
“high impact” raw material – Lintec – which is high in Omega 3 and has positive impacts on
fertility, milk, meat and general well-being across all species, and at a very economical cost to the
farmer.

“We're setting our stall out to offer customers an improved diet package
and service this winter because we've invested a lot of money in new people, products and technology,” says
Grant Spittal.

“The
beneficiaries will be the customers, as they will gain from better products and added competition, and BOCM PAULS as
we increase our customer base due to improved nutrition capability.”

In 2005 BOCM PAULS
had no blend business in Scotland, but now it is the clear market leader. On top of this the company
distributes brewery and distillery co-products. The combination has resulted in a complete re-branding of the
company from being “a compounder” to being “The Total Feed
Business”.

Blend volumes are set to rise significantly because of the investment in new
technology, believes Mr Spittal. This new technology has the ability to radically cut protein prices by
enhancing the nutritional value of soya, rape meal and rolled wheat.

The process,
BIO-PROTECT, protects the raw materials in an entirely natural way to reduce protein or starch degradation in the
rumen. The effect of the “bio protection” increases the supply of Dietary Undegradeable Protein (DUP)
and Dietary Undegradeable Starch (DUS) in the raw materials. This process vastly reduces the cost per unit of
DUP, therefore dramatically improving cost efficiencies. For wheat the treatment protects the starch
element, reducing starch fermentation in the rumen and increasing the Dietary Undegradeable Starch (DUS)
levels. The risk of acid load in the rumen, and thus acidosis, is reduced – meaning that more wheat can
be fed to ruminants than otherwise would be possible.

The resulting raw materials –
dubbed SoyaPlus, WheatPlus and RapePlus can all be used to replace more expensive protein or starch sources, and
will improve milk production and the health status of the cattle.

The new product,
LINTEC, is a uniquely extruded linseed raw material. This linseed variety is high in Omega3, as is spring
grass. When included at a rate of 0.5 kgs per day the product improves health and fertility
by reducing the incidence of acidosis and fatty liver, which increases body condition score. Trials have shown
milk yields increased by over 2 litres per cow per day.

“This product is making a
real impact,” says Grant. “We have designed a group of specialised blends to fit all our customer's
needs to deliver the most cost effective, performance improving solutions on farm.”
Grant also
praises the contribution from the new AgriBusiness Desk, which is headed-up by four experienced
feed trading specialists: Lynn Gardner, Shona Brown, Yvonne Weir and Ashleigh Boyd. They have worked at the
farmer-facing end of the Scottish feed industry for a combined total of 26 years, have a strong technical knowledge
and affinity with the livestock industry, and will be delighted to see customers at the BOCM PAULS stand at
AgriScot.

“All four of our new developments in Scotland put us in an ideal position to
help service the needs of all Scottish livestock farmers, and continue to demonstrate BOCM PAULS' commitment to the
Scottish Agricultural Industry.”